MEN OF HONOR

MEN OF HONOR gives you a rousing true story about honor, courage, determination, fighting injustice, and the bond between fathers and sons. Carl Brashear’s achievement as the first Black man to serve as a deep-sea diver for the United States Navy makes a genuinely inspiring centerpiece, while the film’s dramatic climaxes give his perseverance real force.

The cost is substantial. Strong, repeated language begins early and continues throughout the movie, mostly from Robert De Niro’s rough-edged character. The film also includes racial slurs, a crude sexual comment, bloody violence, alcohol abuse, and smoking.

The answer is clear: discerning adults may find the film worth seeing, but it is not appropriate for children or young teens.

As a boy, Carl Brashear helps his father plow a Southern farm before leaving home to join the United States Navy. On board ship, Carl is assigned kitchen, janitorial, and servant duties, but he longs to become one of the divers who risk their lives to save others.

His swimming ability earns him a chance to work with the divers. Later, he fights to train as a deep-sea diver despite racism, opposition, and an instructor determined to make him fail.

Three stars means a compelling, morally serious drama with noticeable flaws. MEN OF HONOR builds toward several powerful dramatic climaxes, including a final courtroom drama. Cuba Gooding, Jr. gives Carl Brashear’s determination and courage a strong center, while Robert De Niro delivers a tremendous, compelling performance as Billy Sunday.

The movie runs a little long, taking time to reach its stirring high points. Gooding can also seem too earnest and unconvincing at times, a problem that may belong partly to the script. Still, the film’s service setting, moral themes, and inspiring true story give it real dramatic weight.

MEN OF HONOR presents a moderate moral worldview centered on honor, courage, determination, fatherhood, and opposition to unjust discrimination and prejudice. Carl’s persistence in the face of racism is treated as heroic, and his example changes the people around him. The film also presents recovery from alcoholism as possible and meaningful.

The movie’s moral strengths are weakened by its strong language and slight political correctness. Its repeated obscenities and profanities are not necessary to communicate realism or masculine courage, and they substantially limit the film’s usefulness for families.

The father-son relationship gives the story much of its emotional and moral power. Carl carries a handmade family radio from his father, marked with initials whose meaning inspires him to keep going. Scripture calls believers to “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression” (Isaiah 1:17), a command that aligns with the film’s condemnation of racism and unjust discrimination.

MEN OF HONOR is a compelling tribute to courage, fatherhood, and fighting injustice, weakened by language that never needed to be there. Discerning adults may find WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY; families with children or young teens should choose another film.